Refuse-reducing machine

ABSTRACT

The invention contemplates refuse-reducing mechanism employing relatively rotating coaxial structures to achieve a succession of stages of progressive size reduction, as refuse is conveyed through or shredded in the mechanism. At one general axial span, plural reduction stages proceed radially inwardly, from a load in zone at maximum diameter. After such reduction, the reduced material may be axially transposed to a second general axial span for further reduction, again with radially inward progression. Thus reduced, the material may be delivered for storage or for still further reduction or other processing, as desired. The entire multistage reducer is conveniently built into a vehicle body or trailer, or it may be used in stationary applications, as for apartment houses, hospitals, grocery stores and the like.

United States Patent [72] Inventor George B. Brown 63 Oxiord Street, Glen Ridge, NJ. 07028 [21] Appl. No. 17,604 [22] Filed Mar. 9, 1970 [45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 [54] REFUSE-REDUCING MACHINE 19 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 241/163, 241/101 M, 241/245, 241/251, 241/261 [51] Int. Cl B02c 13/10 [50] Field oiSearch 241/101 M, 155, 144, 146,157,158, 160,161, 162, 163, 167, 221, 222, 224, 245, 247, 248, 251, 255, 261, D16 23 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 370,880 10/1887 Mathiason 241/261 X 1,948,328 2/1934 Boughton 24l/222 X 2,502,022 3/1950 Paul 3,173,619 3/1965 Bryan ABSTRACT: The invention contemplates refuse-reducing mechanism employing relatively rotating coaxial structures to achieve a succession of stages of progressive size reduction, as refuse is conveyed through or shredded in the mechanism. At one general axial span, plural reduction stages proceed radially inwardly, from a load in zone at maximum diameter. After such reduction, the reduced material may be axially transposed to a second general axial span for further reduction, again with radially inward progression. Thus reduced, the material may be delivered for storage or for still further reduction or other processing, as desired. The entire multistage reducer is conveniently built into a vehicle body or trailer, or itmay be used in stationary applications, as for apartment houses, hospitals, grocery stores and the like.

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NEYS

REFUSE-REDUCING MACHINE This invention relates to a machine for processing solid waste, such as garbage and trash, and mechanically reducing the same to a particle size which permits relatively dense storage, or more ready further compacting to still greater density.

In the collection of garbage, trash and the like refuse, the need for' compaction has long been recognized. For example, some refuse-collection trucks contain devices in the form of blades to scoop up refuse which has been placed in a trough in the rear of the truck and to compact the material against a 'movable wall. When the truck is fully loaded, the blade becomes inoperable, the moving wall is back as far as it can go, and the truck must be emptied. The problem with such devices is that compaction is highly inefficient, since a fully loaded truck of the character indicated is still carrying more enclosed airspace than volume of solid material; compaction may be only inthe order of2: l or 3:1 at best.

There are stationary devices, such as hammermills, in use today, particularly in apartment houses and hospitals, for effecting volume reduction by as much as 15:1, but such devices do not lend themselves directly to refuse truck use (a) because the variety of input material is relatively restricted (i.e., predictable) in the stationary applications as compared to the truck applications, and (b) the operating noise can be well contained in a building but may be a public nuisance on a truck. For example, the household waste that must be handled by refuse trucks includes pieces of wood, scrap metal, and old furniture, and the like, which is not presented for digestion by the stationary compactors and which may if necessary be culled out for other disposal; a refuse truck operator has relatively little provision for selective culling of refuse.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improved refuse-reducing mechanism.

Another object is to meet the above object with a mechanism inherently capable of accepting and reducing a wide variety of waste-product material.

A specific object is to achieve the above objects with structure that may be adapted to or incorporated in refuse-collection vehicles and which can attain a greater density of compacted material.

Another specific object is to achieve the above objects with a device which will more finely divide and store householdcollected refuse.

A further specific object is to provide improved refusereducing mechanism, which is directly applicable to a refusecollection vehicle, which will not generate excessive noise, and which will enable a truck of given volumetric storage capacity to make fewer round trips to the dump in a given day's use.

Still another specific object is to provide improved refusereducing mechanism for a vehicle so as to reduce the problem of waste disposal at a dump or other receiving point.

A general object is to achieve the foregoing objects with relatively simple and inexpensive mechanism, enabling volume reduction in the range of 5:1 to :1, and lending itself to relatively simple maintenance.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention will be pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a ready of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, a preferred form of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a simplified view in end elevation showing a refusereducing mechanism of the invention, a portion of the near wall being broken away to reveal internal structure;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the reducing mechanism of FIG. 1, as seen when the housing wall is cut and sectioned at the central alignment 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 2 but with the housing wall cut at 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a simplified exploded view in perspective, showing the several parts of the mechanism of FIGS. 1 to 3; and

FIG. 5 is a simplified perspective view of certain parts car ried by a frame member of the mechanism.

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates refuse-reducing mechanism employing relatively rotating coaxial structures to achieve a succession of stages of progressive size reduction, as refuse is conveyed through or shredded in the mechanism. At one general axial span, plural reduction stages proceed radially inwardly, from a load-in zone at maximum diameter. After such reduction, the reduced material may be axially transposed to a second general axial span for further reduction, again with radially inward progression. Thus reduced, the material may be delivered for storage or for still further reduction or other processing, as desired. The entire multistage reducer is conveniently built into a vehicle body or trailer, or it may be used in stationary applications, as for apartment houses, hospitals, grocery stores and the like.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown embodied in a frame structure or housing, shown to include a base or floor 10, a top 11, upstanding sidewalls 12-13, and a backwall 14. The entire housing may be installed on stationary footings or on vehicular frame members; the spaced elongated girders 15-16 will be understood to designate a vehicular chassis, as in the case of a trailer, or the back end of a refuse-collection truck. The backwall l4 incorporates provision for rear loading of refuse material at a convenient relatively low elevation opening 17, and a hopper or chute 18 is shown secured to and carried by the wall 14 at this opening, to facilitate in feed to the reducing mechanism of the invention.

Within the housing, the reducing mechanism relies upon two axially spaced frames 19-20 defining an axial span A within which plural stages of refuse reduction are accomplished. The frame 19 may be a reinforcing part of the rear wall 14, and the frame 20 may be separately supported on the base 10 and otherwise referenced to the frame 19, by means not shown. The product of reduction in the radial stages between frames 19-20 is collected by means such as a chute 21 for offsetting removal, to a second axial span B on the other side of frame 20, where further reduction may proceed, prior to collection and discharge at 22 to storage or further processing means, suggested by legend in FIG. 2.

As generally indicated, refuse-reduction proceeds radially inwardly, in a succession of stages within the span or zone A. This is accomplished using relatively rotating drum, breaker, and grid structures and may be realized about a single axis, common to and serving refuse-reduction in both the A and B zones. 1

In the A zone, a first drum 25 has a closed outer surface or wall 26, extending between a relatively open end 27 (adjacent the hopper 18) and a relatively closed end 28. Drum 25 is shown as frustoconical, with means for rotary support and drive at the region of the frame location 20; the rotary axis is generally horizontal, meaning that it may be within a range of elevation from horizontal, extending as much as substantially 30, in which case of course the end 28 is the lowered end. Conveniently, the reduced or substantially closed end 28 is extended by a circular annulus 29 and is the means of rotary support of the drum, at angularly spaced grooved rollers 30 which are carried on the frame 20. Adjacent the annulus 29, a ring gear 31 receives rotary drive from suitable means 32, which in the case of a truck may be a power takeoff from the propulsion engine, or which in the case of a trailer installation may be an auxiliary power source. The phantom line 33 in FIG. 2 will be understood to designate shafting to a pinion for edge drive of the drum 25, at gear 31. The direction of drive is indicated at 34 in FIG. 1.

At angularly spaced locations within the drum 25, the inner surface of its wall 26 is formed with or carries radially inwardly projecting refuse-engaging means such as lugs, blades or paddles 35 Blades 35 are shown extending axially from end to end of the drum 25 and to be slightly bowed or spiralled, as most clearly seen in FIG. 1. The concavity of such bowing faces upwardly, as drum 25 rotates clockwise in the sense of FIG. 1, to engage refuse dumped in the hopper l8, and to elevate the same to a raised or upper position. On this initial course of refuse movement, a first stage of size reduction takes place, should the bulk of refuse be too great. This first stage is determined by the relatively great clearance between a fixed projection or breaker 36 and the path of upward movement of successive blades 35. In the form shown (FIG. 5), breaker 36 is a rigid bracket, fixed to the front plate 37 of the rear frame 19 and having three angularly and radially outwardly projecting ribs 36a-36b-36c which, in the direction of adjacent blade movement, present progressively narrowing clearances with the path of movement of blades 35; alternatively, separate and more greatly spaced brackets may define the successively convergent barriers of the breaker means 36.

Thus, a bulky article of refuse, such as a wooden orange crate, will be carried upward by one of the blades 35, to the point of crate interference with the first (36a) of the breaker projections. Drum rotation will destroy the crate, to the point where some fragments may carry past the breaker means 36 while other fragments drop, only to be picked up by a succeeding blade 35. On the next attempted pass, such other fragment may clear breaker means 36 or it may encounter destructive interference with another (36b or 36c) of the breaker projections. Eventually, however, and in rather short order, the sufiiciently fragmented parts of the whole orange crate will have cleared the first stage, at breaker 36.

When the sufficiently broken fragments reach a sufficient elevation, they fall by gravity for the next stage of reduction, and a fixed scavenging blade or barrier 38 (also carried by the back-frame plate 37, but at the top of the sweep of drum 25) has a culling edge 38 in close clearance with the path of blade movement, to pick off and drop refuse fragments which may not yet have dropped and which project radially inwardly out of this path.

The speed of rotation of drum 25 will, of course, be understood to be relatively slow, such as 5 to rpm. for a drum of6 to 8 ft. diameter, being the result of substantial gear reduction at the pinion drive to gear 31. Thus, centrifugal effects are inconsequential and do not interfere with the described gravitational release of products of the first reduction stage (36).

As generally indicated above, the next stage or stages of size reduction proceed radially inwardly and are operative on the released products of the first reduction stage (36). Such further reduction may utilize relatively rotating tearing, shredding or grinding elements, and in the form shown two drums or grids 40--4l and fixed breakers or barriers 42-43 perform the function, to the point where the further reduced products of such second reduction stage fall gravitationally on the chute 21.

The drum or grid 40 is shown to be generally cylindrical, being secured to and carried by the substantially closed wall 28 of drum 25. It has plural elongated slots 44 spaced about its wall, to allow for radially inward passage of sufficiently small fragments, and between slots 44 spaced radially extending sets of breaker elements 45 are mounted, as three axially spaced sets which clear but radially overlap and mesh with corresponding radial slots 46-47 in the two fixed breakers 42-43. In analogous fashion, corresponding radial slots 38" may be provided to clear but radially overlap the breaker elements 45 as they pass the barrier 38.

The drum or grid 41 is also mounted on a common axis with drums -40 but for greater fragmenting effectiveness the drum 41 is independently rotatable, being driven in the opposite direction (counterclockwise, in the sense of FIG. 1) by an edge driving pinion connection to a ring gear 48 forming part of drum 41. The phantom connection 33' in FIG. 2 will be understood to identify such a drive from the power source 32 which drives drum 25. Rotary support for drum 41 is provided by bearing means 49 at the rim of the opening in wall 28, and by spaced positioning rolls 50 on the rear frame plate 37. As with drum 40, the drum or grid 41 is open-ended and characterized by plural spaced slotted openings 51 in its wall. Two sets of breaker lugs 52 project radially outwardly of drum 41 and radially overlap and clear slotted openings 53 in spaced radially inward, axially extending blades 54, forming inner structure of the drum 40.

As indicated, fragmented material passing through or reduced by the stage -41 is received by chute 21 and conveyed from span A to span B, where it is deposited on the inner surface of a further drum 55 secured to and carried by the plate or wall 28 of drum 25. The inner surface of drum 55 preferably includes ribs, corrugations or other projections to engage such fragments sufficiently to raise them upwardly, in the course of movement of drum 25 (and 55). On the way up, the fragments must pass or be further reduced at a final restrictive passage, defined by the relatively close clearance relation between a fixed breaker element 56 and the path of upward movement of the inner surface of drum 55. A supporting bracket structure 57 is shown spanning opposed uprights of the frame 20 to provide a fixed reference for the breaker element 56.

It will be seen that the fragmentation at 55-56 represents a third stage of reduction and that material passing this restriction will gravitationally fall for collection by the second or delivery chute 22. As suggested in FIG. 2, the reduction at this point may be sufficient to enable conveyance to a desired truck or other storage region, or it is sufficiently uniform in its reduction to permit more tolerant acceptance by further reduction or compacting means on the vehicle or otherwise associated with the reduction means of my invention.

It will be seen that I have described improved refuse-compacting mechanism which operates, in successive stages of reduction, to progressively shred or break random bulky material, as is encountered in residential and other refuse collection. Because the material is fragmented to a relatively fine state, a substantial improvement in volume reduction is achieved without resorting to any pressure-type compaction techniques. The material stores itself in more compact form, thereby achieving greater loads per vehicle, with resultant fewer round trips per day to the dump. The material deposited at the dump requires less volume and no roller or other special techniques for settling. The order of magnitude of volume reduction may be in the range of 5:1 to 10:1, for ordinary household, residential collections. Moreover, this reduction is achieved without noticeable increase in noise over present compactor-type vehicles, since the'rotating parts are substantially enclosed, and they rotate relatively slowly, depending for their effectiveness upon high mechanical advantage in the drive of relatively high mass, rugged, rotating parts.

Although the invention has been described in detail for the preferred form shown, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, various combinations of blades and scrapers may be provided in each of the different stages of reduction, the important point being that plural reduction stages are presented to a steady flow of input material, all contained within or carried by the same basic rotating structure of drum 25. Also, fenders, guards, seals and the like are provided to assure clean retention of fragmented material at its correct stages, as suggested for example by the fixed bracket or plate 58 (FIG. 3) extending over the upward arc of movement of drum 25; plate 58 extends in adjacent radial overlap with the generally open end 27 of drum 25, to substantially the limited radial extent of adjacent ends of blades 35, and it serves to retain dropped fragments within the pick up region swept by blades 35.

I claim:

1. Refuse-processing means, comprising a first drum with a closed outer wall and having a generally open end and a generally closed end, means supporting and rotating said drum on a generally horizontal axis, feed means communicating with the lower part of the generally open end of said drum for feeding refuse therein as said drum is rotated past an in feed location, the inner surface of said drum including radially inwardly extending refuse-engaging means for elevating refuse during the course of drum rotation from the in feed location to an upper location, first fixed constriction means positioned in a predetermined first clearance relation with the inner surface of said drum at a location intermediate the in feed location and said upper location during the course of movement to said upper location, whereby refuse of size to be fouled by the constriction at said clearance will be subjected to a first stage of breaking action prior to passage through said clearance; a second drum within said first drum and including an outer wall having circumferentially distributed openings therein, and means supporting and rotating said second drum on a generally horizontal axis, second constriction means positioned in a predetermined second clearance relation with the outer surface of said second drum in the range between said upper and lower locations, said second clearance and the constricting dimension of said openings being less than said first clearance, whereby refuse passing through said openings may have been subjected to a second stage of breaking action at said second clearance; and refuse-removal means within said second drum and poised to receive refuse passed by said openings.

2. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which said drums are rotated in opposite directions.

3. Refuse-processing means according to claim 2, in which said first and second constriction means are at generally opposed sides of the axes of said drums.

4. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which said drums are on a common axis.

5. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1', in which said first constriction means comprises plural angularly spaced constrictor elements having progressively decreasing clearance with said first drum in the direction of first-drum rotation.

6. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which said second constriction means comprises plural angularly spaced constrictor elements having progressively decreasing clearance with said second drum in the direction of seconddrum rotation.

7. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which said second constriction means includes a generally cylindrical grid carried by said first drum and interposed between said second drum and the wall of said first drum.

8. Refuse-processing means according to claim 7, in which third constriction means is fixedly positioned in a predetermined third clearance relation with the outer profile of said grid, whereby a further stage of breaking action may be operative upon refuse passing said first constriction and prior to passage through said grid.

9. Refuse-processing means according to claim 8, in which said grid and said further constriction means include radially overlapping but axially clearing elements at angularly spaced locations.

10. Refuse-processing means according to claim 8, in which said grid and said second drum include radially overlapping but axially clearing elements at angularly spaced locations.

11. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which said feed means is a hopper communicating with the lower part of said first drum.

12. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, and including a fixed upstanding wall facing andsubstantially closing the end of said first drum in the region above said feed means.

13. Refuse-processing means according to claim 12, in which said wall includes a generally radially and axially extending barrier element in relatively close radial clearance with said grid and near the top of the path of grid movement.

14. Refuse-processing means according to claim I, in which said first drum is generally frustoconical with said generally open end the larger end.

15. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which said radially inwardly extending refuse-engaging means includes a plurality of generally axially and radially extending blade elements at angularly spaced locations.

16. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which the substantially closed end of said first drum includes a central opening and in which said refuse-removal means includes a discharge element extending through said central openin l7. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1 in which a third rotary drum is positioned axially adjacent the generally closed end of said first drum and in which said discharge element extends into said third drum for discharge therein, a third constriction element fixed against rotation and positioned in predetermined relatively close clearance relation with the inner wall of said third drum for establishing a third stage of breaking action operative upon refuse received from said discharge element, and further refuse-removal means within said third drum and poised to receive refuse passed by said third constriction element.

18. Refuse-processing means according to claim 16, in which said third drum is carried by said first drum at the generally closed end thereof.

19. Refuse-processing means, comprising a drum with a closed outer wall and having a generally open end and a generally closed end, means supporting and rotating said drum on a generally horizontal axis, feed means communicating with the lower part of the generally open end of said drum for feeding refuse therein as said drum is rotated past an in feed location, the inner surface of said drum including radially inwardly extending refuse-engaging means for elevating refuse during the course of drum rotation from the in feed location to an upper location, fixed constriction means positioned in predetermined clearance relation with the inner surface of said drum and intermediate the in feed location and said upper location during the course of movement to said upper location, whereby refuse of size to be fouled by said constriction means will be subjected to breaking action prior to passage past said clearance relation; a second drum within said first drum and including an outer wall having circumferentially distributed openings therein, and refuse-removal means within said drum and poised to receive refuse that has passed said clearance relation. 

1. Refuse-processing means, comprising a first drum with a closed outer wall and having a generally open end and a generally closed end, means supporting and rotating said drum on a generally horizontal axis, feed means communicating with the lower part of the generally open end of said drum for feeding refuse therein as said drum is rotated past an in feed location, the inner surface of said drum including radially inwardly extending refuse-engaging means for elevating refuse during the course of drum rotation from the in feed location to an upper location, first fixed constriction means positioned in a predetermined first clearance relation with the inner surface of said drum at a location intermediate the in feed location and said upper location during the course of movement to said upper location, whereby refuse of size to be fouled by the constriction at said clearance will be subjected to a first stage of breaking action prior to passage through said clearance; a second drum within said first drum and including an outer wall having circumferentially distributed openings therein, and means supporting and rotating said second drum on a generally horizontal axis, second constriction means positioned in a predetermined second clearance relation with the outer surface of said second drum in the range between said upper and lower locations, said second clearance and the constricting dimension of said openings being less than said first clearance, whereby refuse passing through said openings may have been subjected to a second stage of breaking action at said second clearance; and refuse-removal means within said second drum and poised to receive refuse passed by said openings.
 2. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which said drums are rotated in opposite directions.
 3. Refuse-processing means according to claim 2, in which said first and second constriction means are at generally opposed sides of the axes of said drums.
 4. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which said drums are on a common axis.
 5. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which Said first constriction means comprises plural angularly spaced constrictor elements having progressively decreasing clearance with said first drum in the direction of first-drum rotation.
 6. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which said second constriction means comprises plural angularly spaced constrictor elements having progressively decreasing clearance with said second drum in the direction of second-drum rotation.
 7. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which said second constriction means includes a generally cylindrical grid carried by said first drum and interposed between said second drum and the wall of said first drum.
 8. Refuse-processing means according to claim 7, in which third constriction means is fixedly positioned in a predetermined third clearance relation with the outer profile of said grid, whereby a further stage of breaking action may be operative upon refuse passing said first constriction and prior to passage through said grid.
 9. Refuse-processing means according to claim 8, in which said grid and said further constriction means include radially overlapping but axially clearing elements at angularly spaced locations.
 10. Refuse-processing means according to claim 8, in which said grid and said second drum include radially overlapping but axially clearing elements at angularly spaced locations.
 11. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which said feed means is a hopper communicating with the lower part of said first drum.
 12. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, and including a fixed upstanding wall facing and substantially closing the end of said first drum in the region above said feed means.
 13. Refuse-processing means according to claim 12, in which said wall includes a generally radially and axially extending barrier element in relatively close radial clearance with said grid and near the top of the path of grid movement.
 14. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which said first drum is generally frustoconical with said generally open end the larger end.
 15. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which said radially inwardly extending refuse-engaging means includes a plurality of generally axially and radially extending blade elements at angularly spaced locations.
 16. Refuse-processing means according to claim 1, in which the substantially closed end of said first drum includes a central opening and in which said refuse-removal means includes a discharge element extending through said central opening.
 17. Refuse-processing means according to claim 16, in which a third rotary drum is positioned axially adjacent the generally closed end of said first drum and in which said discharge element extends into said third drum for discharge therein, a third constriction element fixed against rotation and positioned in predetermined relatively close clearance relation with the inner wall of said third drum for establishing a third stage of breaking action operative upon refuse received from said discharge element, and further refuse-removal means within said third drum and poised to receive refuse passed by said third constriction element.
 18. Refuse-processing means according to claim 16, in which said third drum is carried by said first drum at the generally closed end thereof.
 19. Refuse-processing means, comprising a drum with a closed outer wall and having a generally open end and a generally closed end, means supporting and rotating said drum on a generally horizontal axis, feed means communicating with the lower part of the generally open end of said drum for feeding refuse therein as said drum is rotated past an in feed location, the inner surface of said drum including radially inwardly extending refuse-engaging means for elevating refuse during the course of drum rotation from the in feed location to an upper location, fixed constriction means positioned in predetermined clearance relation with the inner surface of said drum and inTermediate the in feed location and said upper location during the course of movement to said upper location, whereby refuse of size to be fouled by said constriction means will be subjected to breaking action prior to passage past said clearance relation; a second drum within said first drum and including an outer wall having circumferentially distributed openings therein, and refuse-removal means within said drum and poised to receive refuse that has passed said clearance relation. 